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2009 is almost over, so I wanted to give out some props to my favorite games of the year. Across all the gaming platforms, 2009 was full of great games to play all year long. In my opinion, here are the games that I saw as the best:

There were plenty of games that had me excited for 2009, and Batman was not one of them. I first read about Arkham Asylum in Game Informer, and although it looked great, it wasn't until I played the demo myself that really got me excited. Then once August rolled around, I played through the game twice in one week and was amazed at the experience Rocksteady Studios had created. Even if you forget it that it is in the Batman Universe, you still have a game that looked and played great, with some awesome moments and an immersive atmosphere that was Arkham Island.

Runner-up (Uncharted 2)

The original Uncharted was the first game I fully completed on PS3 which is saying something since I don't even own the console, but the amazing graphics and characters pulled me in from start to finish when I played it at a friends house. I hoped for a sequel that could hold its own to what the first one established, and Naughty Dog once again delivered like they always do. This is an amazing game and a Definite Must Have, but Batman still resonated with me more even after not playing it for months.

Best PlayStation 3 Exclusive game

The Nominees- Demon's Souls, Uncharted 2, inFamous, Ratchet and Clank: Crack in Time, and Killzone 2

And the winner is.... Uncharted 2!!

Uncharted 2 is a must play for PlayStation 3 owners. The campaign is amazing and the multiplayer combines great elements from Call of Duty and Gears of War while introducing original platforming elements of it's own into the mix.

Runner-up (inFamous)

This game did things that we have seen before in games like the open world environment and a character with choices to make, but Sucker Punch rolled everything together and made a solid game that was a fun and addictive ride. As Cole MacGrath you were able to traverse the world in some really cool ways, and the great story in the game was filled with moral choices to make based on what you did in the game.

Best Xbox 360 Exclusive Game

The Nominees- Halo 3 ODST, Forza Motorsport 3, and Left 4 Dead 2

And the Winner is... Halo 3:ODST!!

Halo 3: ODST is a great game that allowed experienced Halo Vets to take on the Covenant is a different way. The lack of shields, speed, and melee power that Master Chief brought to the table were all gone, but we were given new tools to make up for that, including the excellent silenced SMG and a silenced pistol that packed a punch. Firefight mode was a ton of fun, and if only there was matchmaking for it, more players would still be working to get to the next set. Bungie also encourages players to keep it for the purpose of being able to play the Halo Reach beta that arrives in Spring 2010 which is not too far away. Once again with every Halo game, Marty O'Donnell's score brought all the action together in a great way.

Runner-up (Forza 3)

Forza is the racing king when it comes to playing on an Xbox Console. The huge community of players that customize their own cars and sell or purchase them for in-game credit is pretty amazing, and some of the community painters have even been hired to work for Turn 10 all thanks to their amazing skills on the art they made using the game's paint mode. Can't beat a game that can help you get some work.

Best Downloadable Game

The Nominees- Shadow Complex, Splosion Man, Trine, and Trials HD

And the winner is... Shadow Complex!

Shadow Complex was a great game that combined old school gameplay and new school technology to create a fun game with some great replayability. It only took speed runners about a week or so to figure out the paths needed to complete the game in about 15 minutes, but playing normally through the game could get you about 7 or so hours of fun action. It's a game well worth the points and another great game from Chair!

Runner-up (Splosion Man)

Both Shadow Complex and Splosion Man came out during the Summer of Arcade, and Splosion Man was the game that really surprised me on how fun it was. It was easy to learn, but hard to master as each level got harder and harder, but it was really satisfying to get to the end of every level. The online multiplayer was pretty laggy at times, but playing this offline with four players was a ton of fun, and I can't wait for Twisted Pixels' next game.

Best Bang for your Buck Award

The Nominees- Borderlands, Dragon Age Origins, and Modern Warfare 2

And the Winner is... Modern Warfare 2!!

If you play online games and love Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2 is the multiplayer experience that gets better and better with every match. Infinity Ward basically improved upon greatness that COD4 had, and the titles and emblems proved to be really fun to obtain as well as the new perks, guns, and customizable kill-streaks in the game. More is definitely to come as the game hasn't even had any downloadable content yet, so be ready to play this game even more in 2010!

Runner-up (Borderlands)

Borderlands is a great to play alone, but shines brightly with friends in co-op. Tons of guns and loot are there for the taking in the world of Pandora, and proved to be even better when friends were in the mix. DLC for the game has started to come out, and will add to the hours of gameplay that you can enjoy even without the extras that the downloads provide.

ACII is what the original Assassin's Creed should have been. It has a great world to explore with many new side quests to complete, greater arsenal to use, longer and better storyline, and More time as an Assassin. The team at Ubisoft nearly doubled to work on this game, and it really shows. No matter what platform you play on, you will be getting a great game all around.

Runner-up (Left 4 Dead 2)

The Left 4 Dead sequel announcement was a surprise that came out of E3, but Valve has improved upon their Zombie Shootin' formula in a year and it shows. There are better details on the characters in the game, and more stuff added like melee weapons that improves upon the formula made with the original Left 4 Dead.

Borderlands was a great FPS/RPG and got even better when more players were added into the mix. It was a ton of fun to play with friends, and felt a little bit like playing World of Warcraft.

Runner-up (Resident Evil 5)

RE5 had a great story that allowed Co-op play throughout the whole story. Sheva may not have been the best A.I in the world, but she held her own if you had to play by yourself. The Versus mode was so-so, but Co-op Story mode really made that game stand out when it released.

Hardest Game of The Year goes to Demon's Souls!!

Play this game and try not to die. You'll find that it's nearly impossible! But when you completed a part that tested you with death after death, the gratification was worth all the frustration.

Even the Hawkman himself couldn't save this game. It was real close between this and Rogue Warrior, but from what I have read, Rogue Warrior is at least functional.

Best Demo This Year is Batman Arkham Asylum!!

The 2 GB download of Batman was what got me really interested in the full game. It left you wanting for more, and was a great way to show off the combat and atmosphere of the game.

Hardest Xbox 360 Achievement of The Year

"Star 69-Earn 69 stars in Special Ops"

The last achievement I need for the 1000/1000 in MW2 is this sucker, an achievement that gives the Mile High Club a run for its money. Its mostly the last few missions that have me going crazy, so I'm gonna have to practice on these to get a gun run at obtaining this one.

Easiest Xbox 360 Achievement of The Year

"That’s what I call an upgrade!-Unlock the full version of Diner Dash®"

You're basically getting this one free if you purchase the game, making it the easiest of the year. 800 Microsoft points and 5 points of Gamerscore will instantly be yours!!

Many games of 2009 deserve a look and although I didn't put them all, there are plenty out there other than the ones I included. Congrats to the Developers and Publishers for a great year in Gaming, and Happy Holidays!!!

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The Button Presser provides game reviews, news, impressions, opinion pieces, and release date details on upcoming video-games for current, mobile, and next-gen platforms.
Remember to Have Fun, Be Nice, and Think before you type!